Mexican Media Brands
Aluminum Diet on Tap for Next Mercedes C-Class?
Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz unit is working with suppliers to reduce the weight of future models by developing advanced component joining technologies to optimize material usage, including aluminum.
#aluminum
Share
Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz unit is working with suppliers to reduce the weight of future models by developing advanced component joining technologies to optimize material usage, including aluminum.
The next-generation C-Class, which is expected to launch early next decade, will employ a variety of bonding, laser-welding and riveting processes, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International CEO Jason Hoff tells attendees at this week’s Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Mich. One of the technologies being explored, he says, is welding steel to aluminum.
Variances in melting temperatures and other differences make it challenging to combine steel and aluminum. But there have been few recent cross-material welding applications, Automotive News points out. Among them are the subframe component on the Honda Accord and a steel seat frame bracket on General Motors’ new aluminum-intensive Cadillac CT6 flagship sedan.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Jaguar XE Uses Recycled Aluminum
The 2017 Jaguar XE is the first model that’s based on the new JLR modular vehicle architecture, which will serve as the underpinning for several future models.
-
Light Rider
When you think of the forthcoming LA Auto Show and Los Angeles in general, you may think of (1) very expensive, very large vehicles being piloted by very egotistical stars and (2) very jammed freeways full of the aforementioned, as well as numerous other vehicles of a less ostentatious variety.
-
Creating a Low-Cost Chassis Architecture
The engineers at Zenos Cars have combined recycled carbon fiber, drinking straws and aluminum to create a chassis for a low-volume sports car.